Accounting device



Dec. l5, 1942. BYRNEs ACCOUNTING DEVICE Filed Aug; 1, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 l l h 1 L1 l l lJl -lqr l h "fi l II III Y [aye/2Z0?" Jpn asp 2 fi e Dec. 15, 1942.

E. p. BYRNES ACCOUNTING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 1, 1940 A wriiig ii Jtzarngy Dec. 15, 1942. E. D. BYRNES ACCOUNTING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 1, 1940 Dec. 15, 1942. E. o. svnuss Y ACCOUNTING DEVICE Filed Aug. 1, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4- lllll m- C a Alp. immlf w Flq jrzyezzzar Ian 432.2 ire/v5.5

[fear/76 Patented Dec. 15, 1942 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE 2,305,235 ACCOUNTING DEVICE Edward D. Byrnes Chicago, Ill. Application August 1, 1940, Serial No. 349,379

6 Claims.

The invention relates to an accounting device,

and particularly to a device permitting the con- It, therefore, constitutes an object of the invention to provide a device wherein a plurality of record sheets are arranged so that only such portions of the record charts which are correlated for summarizing certain data are exposed to view.

A further object is the provision of means for simultaneously indexing all of the record sheets so that selective correlated portions are exposed to view for summarizing their data.

It is a further object to provide means for automatically restoring the record sheets to initial position when no further summarizing is desired.

Another object constitutes the provision for an audible signal when the indexing of the record sheets has been completed.

A still further object is to provide a marker to designate a particular place on the record sheets to facilitate reverting thereto after an interruption.

It is also an object to provide certain features of construction and arrangement of parts tending to enhance the utility and efiiciency of a device used for the accounting system.

With these and other important objects in view, which will become apparent from a perusal of the invention, the latter comprises the novel steps of an accounting system and the means for carrying out the same, as described in the following specification, particularly pointed out in the claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: 1 i

Fig. 1 is an end view of a device constructed in accordance with my invention,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device, Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section, on line 5-5 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-5 of Fig. 3, Fig. '7 is a section on the line 'l-l of Fig. 3, Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a record sheet,

Figs. 9 and 10 show, respectively, a part of the holding device for the record sheet.

Referring to the several views in the drawings,

A plurality of casings I1, [8, I9, 20 and 2| are arranged in said housing. The casings are in spaced relation from each other and extend from the base plate It] to a plane short of the top plate It. A partition 22 is provided near the right side (as viewed in Fig. 4) of each casing to provide a narrow channel for a purpose hereinafter further referred to. i

A rectangular bar 23, constituting a frame, encompasses the casings and is connected by pins 24 to endless chains 25 and 26, respectively trained around sprocket wheels 21 and 28. The sprocket wheel 21 is journaled on a stud 29 extending from the housing walls !4 and I5, and the sprocket wheel 28 is fast on a shaft 30, journaled at one end in the housing wall I4, whereas the other end is journaled in the outer wall 3| of a gear chamber 32.

The casing 2| has a cut away portion 33 to clear the shaft 30 and, likewise, the housing wall I5 is cut away as at 34, which is closed by the wall 3! which is provided with a flange 35.

A plurality of record sheet holders, generally designated by 36, are secured to the frame 23. Each holder comprises two bars 31 and 38 (Figs. 5, 9 and 10) which are hingedly connected to clampingly hold the edge of a record sheet, as will be hereinafter further explained.

The bar 38 has four spaced hinge ,sleeves 39 between which sleeves 40 of the bar 31 fit in registry. A rod 4| extends through the aligning sleeves and, at its ends, an abutment member 42 is secured to prevent longitudinal movement of the rod.

A coil spring 43 surrounds the middle portion of the rod 4|, having one end secured to the rod and the other end bearing against the bar 3'! so as to force the bars into clamping relation. 7

The bar 38 is provided with a plurality of rectangular lugs 44, a pair of triangular lugs 45, and a pair of pins 46. The bar 3! has cut away portions W to clear the lugs 44 and triangular openings 48 in which the triangular lugs are received. Likewise, holes 49 in the bar 31 receive the pins 46.

The record sheet 50 similarly has cut away portions 5| to clear the lugs 44, triangular cut ;on a pin 62 projecting from the wall 3 I. 63 urges the pawl into engagement with the gear provided with a knob 66. towards the left, as viewed in Fig. 6, the pawl is released from engagement with the gear '69, per-' mitting rotation of the gear 66 and consequently "shaft 30 in either direction.

out portions 52 to clear the lugs 45, and slots 53 to permit the record sheet to clear the pins 46.

It is evident that when a record sheet 50 is inserted in the holder, which may be opened by a handle 54 on the bar 31, that the record sheet is accurately aligned by the lugs and pins previously mentioned, and when the handle is released to permit the holder to close under the influence of the coil spring, that the record sheet is securely gripped and held in proper registry with the other sheets of the device. The free end of each record sheet is threaded into the interspace between the casing and the appertaining partition 22 (Fig. 4

The top wall I 6 is formed with longitudinal openings 55 (Fig. 2) so that only one column of each record sheet is open to view, whereas the remaining part of the record sheets are obstructed from view.

It is clear, therefore, that if the frame 23 is actuated by an indexing movement downwardly from the top position, shown in Fig. 4, that successively the remaining columns of each record jcured thereto a pinion 56 in mesh with 'a gear '51 i fast on the inner end of a stud shaft 58 journaled in a bearing 59 integral with the wall SI of the gear chamber- Adjacent to the gear 51 is a gear 69 which is engaged by a pawl 6| (Fig. 6), pivotally secured A spring 60 to permit rotation of the gear in clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 6, but preventing op- "posite rotation.

The pawl is provided with a pin 64 extending through an arcuate slot 65 in the wall 3'! and Upon pushing the knob The shaft 58 is provided with a knob '61 to facilitate rotation of the stud shaft 58 whereby drive is imparted to the 'shaft30.

A clock spring 68 has one end secured to the stud shaft 58 and the other end is secured to an arm 69 projecting from the wall 3|. A disk 10 is fast on the stud shaft 58 and is provided with a number of peripheral indentations H corresponding to the number of columns provided on each record sheet. 7

A tubular casing 12 is secured to the wall 3|. The casing is closed at the top and openat the 'bottom to permit the ejection of a pin l3 under heard by the snapping of the pin into the disk indentation H, thereby informing the operator to abandon further rotation of the knob, thus giving an audible signal that proper indexing has, been completed and the desired column of the record sheets has been brought into visual position.

On top of the wall [6 is provided rod l extendinglongitudinally of the housing at the left ...S thereof, as viewed in Fig. 2, and supported in lugs 16 upstanding therefrom.

A runner 11 is slidably mounted thereon and has a chamber in which a ball 18 is forced into engagement with the rod 15 by a spring 19.

A rod or beam 80, constituting a line finder, is secured to the runner and carries a runner 8| which is equipped with an index 82 so that when the calculations are being interrupted the index may be placed opposite the last data noted and the operator may easily establish the next data to be calculated when resuming work. The top wall I6 is secured by a hinge 83 to the housing I I and thus may be lifted.

The operation of the device is as follows:

When a plurality of record sheets are to be placed in the accounting device, the top wall [6 is lifted up, affording access to the frame 23 and, upon opening the sheet holders 36, the sheet is inserted in'suh holders with the free ends of the sheets being inserted between the interspace of each casing and the appertaining partition 22, as will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 4.

Thereupon, the top wall I5 is closed and the line finder 86 is moved into position where the appertaining data may be easily read off.

The data of each column of each record sheet visible through the openings 55, having been tabulated, the adjoining column ofeach sheet must be brought into view through the openings 55.

To this end, the knob 61 is turned ratcheting over the pawl 61 and as soon as the next column is in position and exposed to view, the pin 13 enters an indentation ii of the'disk l0, affording a click and apprising the operator that the proper position has been reached. 7

This procedure is continued until all ofthe columns have been successively brought "into proper position to be viewed through the openings 55, and each time a new column is tabulated,

the clock spring 68 since the pawl 6| prevents a return movement of the gear 60, so that when the last column has been reached, the spring 68 is fully tensioned, and upon release of the pawl by actuation of the knob 66, the spring 68 is unwound and a quick motion is imparted to the drive shaft 30 and the chains 25 and 26, causing rapid ascensioncf the frame23 and, consequently, the return of the record sheets to the original position, as indicated in Fig. 4, where they may be easily removed from the holders and a new set of record sheets may be introduced.

While the drawings show a preferred embodiment of the invention, numerous changes and alterations may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described, including a housing having a plurality of openings at the top, a plurality of spaced casings in said housing defining channels therebetween, a rectangular frame encompassing said casings. holders on said frame holding record sheets with desired portions underneath said openings and with the remainder of the sheets arranged in said channels, and means for widening said frame to successively expose different portions of said record sheets through said housing openings.

2. A device of the character described, including a housing having a plurality of openings at the top, a plurality of guide channels in said tions underneath said openings, and the remainder depending in said channels, and means for reciprocating said frame.

3. A device of the character described, including a housing having a plurality of openings at the top, a plurality of guide channels in said housing, a frame encompassing said channels, holders on said frame for record sheets with portions underneath said openings, and the remainder depending in said channels, means for moving said frame downwardly step by step, and means for causing a quick ascent of said frame.

4. A device of the character described, including a housing having a plurality of openings at the top, a plurality of guide channels in said housing, a frame around said channels, means on said frame for holding record sheets with portions underneath said openings and the remainder depending in said channels, means for causing said frame to descend step by step, and

an automatic signal indicating the completion of each step.

5. A device of the character described, including a housing having a plurality of openings at the top, a plurality of guide channels in said housing, a frame around said channels, holders on said frame for record sheets, each holder comprising a pair of bars hingedly connected at one edge and. urged in close-d position, the record sheets being held to expose portions through said openings and depending in said channels, and means for causing said frame to descend step by step and to ascend rapidly.

6. A device of th character described, including a housing having a plurality of openings at the top, a plurality of guide channels in said housing, a frame around said channels, means on said frame for holding record sheets with portions underneath said openings and the remainder depending in said channels, means for, causing said frame to descend step by step and to ascend rapidly, and an automatic signal indicating the completion of each step.

EDWARD D. BYRNES. 

